Jail lock and the like



fiepit. 24-, m5 F ADAM zmsms JAIL LOCK AND THE LIKE I Original Filed July 15, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l UULIHLILI ZJMEJUQS Sept, 24, W3. F. ADAM JAIL LOCK AND THE LIKE Original Filed July 15, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept 24, 119350 F. ADAM JAIL LOCK AND THE LIKE Original Filed July 15, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 zmfam @pt 24, 3%35. F. ADAM JAIL LOCK AND THE LIKE Original Filed July 15, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 24, 1935 Miss STATES PATENT OFFEQE Application July 15, 1932, Serial No. 622,794 Renewed February 20, 1935 18 Claims.

The present invention has to do with improvements in jail locks and the like. The features of the invention relate particularly to improvements in the locking means for cell doors of that type which are openedand closed by a sliding movement as distinguished from a swinging movement. The features herein disclosed relate both to the means for locking and unlocking the cell doors and also the means whereby said locking and unlocking devices are actuated and controlled.

One of the features of the invention relates to improvements in the construction whereby the operations of the pawl and ratchet lock are made independent of the operations of the locking bar for the cell to the extent that when the mechanism is in the snap-lock position tampering with the locking bar can not cause the pawl to be moved to the unlocked position and as a result the cell door will remain in the locked condition notwithstanding such tampering with the locking bar. This result is accomplished by supporting the pawl on a fixed or permanent portion of the structure in definite relationship to the ratchet bar, such support being therefore independent of the vertically moving locking bar.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of a construction whereby the vertically movable locking bar is easily and gradually lifted during the closing movement of the cell door to such a position that the latches carried by the cell door itself may complete their movement to the locking position without having to themselves force up the locking bar during the last fractional movement of the cell door. The arrangement is such that as the cell door finally moves to its fully closed position the latches are permitted to move through the openings of the locking oar to the final locking position, whereupon the locking bar is released and drops into locking position therewith. This arrangement makes it possible to ensure complete closing and definite locking of the door without the necessity of exerting an abnormal amount of force during the final stages of the door closing operation, and without the necessity of slamming the door shut.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of an improved construction and means for releasing the pawl from the ratchet bar and for releasing the locking bar from the latches on the door by operation of the key look when the locking mechanism has been moved to the intermediate or snap-locked position. In this connection the disengagement of these parts is performed by key operation, there being provided separate operating members between the key lock and the pawl and the locking bar.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of an improved means for securing the face plates onto the permanent structure by means of blind attachments so that these plates can not be removed by unauthorized persons. In this connection the arrangement is such that when the lock control mechanism is moved to the deadlocked position the blind attaching devices be- 10 come operative to retain the face plates against removal, whereas when the control mechanism is moved to either the snap-locked or unlocked position the blind locking devices are released so that the face plates can be readily removed upon disengaging such additional attaching means as screws or bolts which are conveniently accessible. In some cases the blind locking means is effective during the entire travel of the locking shaft, releasing the plates only when the control mecha- 0 nism is moved to a special position provided for this purpose.

Another feature of the invention relates to an improved operating device for the purpose of moving the control mechanism to any one of the 5 selected positions for which it is adapted. This operating device is in the form of a crank which can be readily manipulated and serves to turn the control shaft through the medium of a suitable gear reduction, the control shaft moving successively to the different principal positions for which the mechanism is designed. Thus for example in the particular installation herein illustrated the control shaft moves from the deadlocked position to the snap-locked (or key locked) position and thence to the unlocked position when the crank is turned in the unlocking direction. Reverse operation of the crank serves to move the control shaft successively through these positions in the reverse order. In order to prevent the warden or guard from moving the control shaft too far I have provided an arrangement such that the crank is automatically locked against further movement when it reaches any of the above mentioned three stations: deadlocked, snaplocked, or open position. Further movement of the crank can only be performed after such looking of the crank is purposely unlocked.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for protecting the mechanism against the exertion of an abnormal amount of force by operation of this crank so as to avoid excessive strain and damage to the parts. In this connection it may be mentioned that in moving the control shaft in the unlocking direction the final movement serves to lift the locking bars of the different cell doors to the unlocked position; whereas in the reverse movement the final turning of the control shaft to the deadlocked position serves to bring the cam blocks into proper engagement with the recesses formed in the ratchet bars for the respective doors. If at such time any particular door is not in the fully closed position the cam block for such door will necessarily jam on the corresponding ratchet bar and the parts can not be moved to their fully locked or deadlocked position until all of the doors have been fully closed.

I have therefore provided a clutch arrangement in connection with the operating crankhandle which clutch arrangement will yield upon the exertion of an excessive force thus making it impossible to excessively strain the parts when moving in the locking direction, and at the same time warning the warden or guard of the fact that some cell door has not been fully closed.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the same which consists in the features of construction and the combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a face View of a cell front embodying the features of the present invention, most of the face plate being broken away so as to reveal the interior construction;

Figure 2 shows a view similar to that of Figure 1 but illustrating only the upper portion of the mechanism and on enlarged scale;

Figure 3 shows a fragmentary view on the line 23 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, the control shaft standing in the inter- .ediate or snap-locked position;

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary face view of the cell front at the position of the key lock on enlarged scale as compared to Figure 1, a portion of the face plate being broken away;

Figure 5 shows a fragmentary section on the line 5i of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 shows a view similar to that of Figure 5 but illustrating a modified construction of blind lock for a face plate of the structure;

Figure 7 shows a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 'I'I of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 shows a face view of the end portion of the tier of cells, a portion of the structure being broken away so as to shorten up the figure; and

Figure 9 shows an edge view corresponding to Figure 8.

Referring first to Figure 1 the cell front illustrated includes the slidable door or gate I2. This gate is supported at its lower end on a track I3 having the usual guide shoes I4. The upper end of the gate is supported in the manner presently to be explained.

The stationary portion of the cell structure also includes the door opening having the inner and outer door casing plates or bars I5 and I6 respectively. The inner edge of the door or gate I! is provided with the latches I'I, I8, I9, which extend through corresponding openings 20, 2|, and 2'2 in the bar I5 when the gate is fully closed into the locking position. In the position illustrated in Figure 1 the gate is in its fully opened condition.

There is a vertically movable locking bar 23 located adjacent to the inner face of the bar I5. This locking bar 23 is provided with companion openings 24 and 25 corresponding to the openings and 2| for the latches I I and I8, and the lower end 26 of the locking bar 23 is located adjacent to the opening 22 for the latch I9. Upon raising the locking bar to bring the openings 24 and 25 into registry with the openings 20 and 2I and to bring the lower end 26 to the upper end of the opening 22 the door or gate can be fully closed, the latches extending through the different openings and the locking bar then can be lowered into the locking position. At such time the locking bar engages notches 21, 28, and 29 in the respective latches I'I, I8, and I9. Safety notch 30 is also provided in the latch I8 so as to provide additional means for locking the gate if desired.

There is a ratchet bar 3| which extends forwardly from the upper end of the door or gate. This ratchet bar is provided with the teeth 32 throughout its length for a distance substantially equal to the total amount of door movement when opening or closing. These teeth 32 are provided with the gradual or slanting faces 33 which face forwardly, and with the abrupt faces 34 which face backwardly.

In the upper portion of the cell front there is provided a horizontal box like chamber 35 which terminates at the position of the upper end of the bar I5 (see Figures 1 and 2). The ratchet 3| extends through an opening in the bar I5 and passes through a small supplemental chamber 36 in the upper portion of the cell front, said chamber 36 being established by the bar I5 and another vertical frame bar 31. The frame bar 31 constitutes in effect the adjacent end bar for the next cell front of the series.

There is a pawl 36 pivotally connected to the frame bar 31 at the point 39 (see Figures 1 and 2 in particular). This pawl has its tooth 4! extending downwardly in position to engage the teeth of the ratchet 3I. This tooth 49 is provided with a slanting face in position to be engaged by the slanting faces 33 of the ratchet teeth and an abrupt face in position to be engaged by the abrupt faces 34 of the ratchet teeth. Consequently when the pawl is in the lowered position illustrated in Figure 2 the door or gate can be moved over in the closing direction and the pawl will engage the successive teeth and prevent backward or opening movement of the gate until of controlling the locking and unlocking functions for the different cells. This control shaft can be turned through a total movement of approximately one-half rotation between the extreme unlocked and deadlocked positions and in so doing the shaft passes through an intermediate or snap-locked or key locked position. The means for turning this shaft will be presently disclosed in detail.

There is a stirrup or yoke 42 connected to the upper end of the locking bar 23 (see Figures 1, 2, and 3). This stirrup extends up and rests over the control shaft ll. The upper end of the locking bar is also provided with a shoe or abutment 43 which is located directly beneath the shaft 4!. Mounted upon the control shaft there is a block 44 for the locking bar or each cell; and there is a lateral projection 45 on such cam block in position for engagement with the shoe 43 or the overhanging yoke 42 as the case may be. In the particular position illustrated in Figure 3 the projection is at its bottom limit of movement where it is in engagement with the shoe 43 and thereby serves to lock the locking bar in its lowermost or deadlocked position. Under this condition the cell door can not be opened by the application of a key to the cell lock. Upon turning the shaft a one-half turn in the clockwise direction when viewed as in Figure 1 the projection 45 will ride under the yoke 42 and lift the same thus simultaneously lifting the locking bar to the unlocking position in which the openings Z4 and 25 are registered with the openings 28 and 2| and the lower end 26 of the locking bar is moved to the upper edge of the lower opening 22.

At an intermediate position of the control shaft the projection 45 has moved away from the shoe 43 but has not engaged the yoke 42 and therefore the locking bar is left in its lowered or looking position but said locking bar can be raised by the application of a key to the key lock. There is a wing 46 on the cam block 44, which wing stands in the lowermost or looking position of Figure 3 when the control shaft 4| is turned to the deadlock position. This wing 46 at such time may engage a large notch 41 at the inner end of the ratchet bar 3| provided the door or gate has been moved to the fully closed position. It is thus evident that said wing serves to deadlock the door or gate by a locking action on the ratchet bar, which locking action is supplemental to that of the locking bar 23. As soon as the control shaft 4| is turned away from the deadlock position this wing 46 disengages from the ratchet bar and thus terminates such deadlocking function.

It may be here noted that ordinarily the teeth 33 are spaced at such close spacing that the wing 46 cannot be swung down between said teeth, so that it is impossible to turn the control shaft over to the deadlock position except when the door or gate is fully closed so as to bring the enlarged notch 41 into registry with said wing. It may be here stated that the operating mechanism which is manipulated by the guard or war den is so constructed that the control shaft cannot be forced with a sufficient force which might tend to; injure or break the parts in case of nonregistry of the wing 46 with the notch 41. Ordinarily a single control shaft serves tocontrol a large number of cells, for example 20-40 cells; and in case the gate or door of any one of these cells is not fully closed the guard will be warned of such fact by reason of the inability to turn the control shaft clear over to the deadlocked position.

There is a finger 41 secured to the block 44 and reaching over to a position where it may engage and lift the pawl 38 into the unlocking position of Figure 2 when the control shaft 4| is turned to the unlocking position. This disengages the pawl from the ratchet bar and permits the door or gate to be opened when the control shaft is turned to the unlocking position.

There is a key lock 48 for each cell. Each of the key locks is provided with a snap lock 49 having a key hole 53 and with a cell lock 5| having a key hole 52. Upon inserting a suitable key into the key hole 50 and turning the same the cell may be unlocked provided the control shaft 4| has been turned to the key lock or snap lock position. This result is accomplished in the following manner;

The lock 48 is provided with a lug or member 53 which is raised when the key is turned in the look 49. Upon raising this lug or member 53 there is raised a hook-shaped finger 54 having the hook 55 which thereupon disengages from the notch 30 of the latch 8 on the gate or door.

The member 54 is also provided with a pin 56 c which engages the locking bar 23 so that the raising of the member 54 by the operation of the key also thereupon serves to raise the locking bar to the unlocked position.

The member 53 also carries a lateral projection 51 upon which rests a pin or rod 58. Said pin or rod 58 extends up through suitable brackets 59 and 60 of the permanent structure and terminates at a position where it will raise the pawl 38 to the unlocking position of Figure 2 when the key is operated in the lock 49. If desired a turnbuckle or other suitable adjustment device 6| may be provided in the rod 58 so that the same will properly function to lift the pawl to the unlocking position when the key is operated.

Secured to the back or inside face of the ratchet bar 3! there is a fiat bar 62 which extends practically the full length of the ratchet bar and may be designated a travel bar. The bracket 43 of the locking bar 23 carries a roller 63 which rests on the upper edge of this travel bar 52 and supports the locking bar at an elevation determined by the elevation of the point of the travel bar which is momentarily in engagement with the roller 63. The inner end of the ratchet bar 3| is connected to the door or gate by a pin 64 and the outer end of the ratchet bar is provided with slide block 65 which has a shoe travel on the rail 66. Consequently the opening and closing movements of the gate or door are accompanied by corresponding movements of the ratchet bar and the travel bar. By properly positioning the travel bar on the ratchet bar and giving these parts the proper relative slant or angular position with respect to each other it is possible to cause the locking bar 23 to rise slowly as the door is moved in the closing direction until just before the latches ll, I8, and I9 reach the position of locking bar, the latter has been raised sufficiently to permit said latches to move through the openings of the locking bar without interference and without the necessity of said latches physically raising the locking bar by the further movement of the door. The inner end 61 of the travel bar is so positioned that it passes the roller 63 and allows the locking bar to drop down to the locking position just as the door or gate moves to its final closed position. It will be noted that I contemplate as one of the features of my invention an arrangement in which the locking bar is supported at an elevation sufliciently high to permit the latches of the door to move to the closed and locking position without having to force up the locking bar, whereupon the locking bar is disengaged and allowed to drop to the locking position.

In order to ensure correct registry of the different parts I prefer to provide an adjustment in the length of the locking bar, the same including 'a threaded stem 68 connected to the bracket at the upper end of the locking bar and also connected to an angle piece 69 on the locking bar proper by means of apair of set nuts or adjustment nuts 70 as illustrated in Figure 2.

To the outer end of the ratchet bar 3| there is pivotally connected a bell crank N. This bell crank includes an upwardly extending finger as shown in Figure 2. There is a block I2 mounted on the control shaft 4| and having a lug 13 which stands in the lowermostposition of Figure 1 chain 85.

2 when the control shaft is turned to the unlocked position. At such time said finger will interfere with the travel of the bell crank H and thus prevent the ratchet from moving over to the left, thereby also preventing the door or gate from closing. It will, however, be noted that due to the pivotal mounting of the bell crank 1| it is possible to open the gate at such times. In other words when the control shaft is turned to the unlocked position the door or gate can be opened and will thereupon be latched or locked in the open position until the control shaft is again turned to the snap locked position.

Reference to Figure 2 shows a small lug or block 14 on the rod 58. This block 14 is in posi tion to engage the horizontal arm of the bell crank ll. Consequently the raising of the rod 58 due to operation of the key lock 49 serves also to tilt the bell crank H so that the door or gate can be closed.

There is a removable front cover plate which extends along in front of the compartment 35. The upper edge of this plate 15 can he slipped beneath a tongue 16 so as to secure the same in place. The lower edge of this plate may then be swung over into the final or flush position illustrated in Figures 3, 5, and 6. Suitable bolts or tap screws may be provided for normally holding the cover plate 15 in such position.

Supplementary thereto the cover plate 15 is also provided on its inner surface with one or more hook-shaped brackets 11 (see Figure 5), and mounted upon the control shaft 4! there are corresponding brackets 78 having the hook fingers 18 which are adapted to engage these brackets 11 in looking fashion when the control shaft is turned to the deadlocked or a subsequent position as shown in Figure 5 in particular. The result is that when the control shaft is in the deadlocked position the front cover plate can not be removed without destroying the parts.

As an alternative or modified construction reference may be had to Figures 6 and 7. In such case there is provided one or more brackets or plates 80 each having a notch 8|; and a circular block 82 is provided on the control shaft corresponding to each of these brackets 80. Each of the circular brackets 82 is provided with a circular flange 83 which engages the notch 8| 7 during the rotation of the control shaft; and each of these flanges 83 is mutilated or partially cut away as shown in Figure 6 at such a position as to release the cover plate when the control shaft is turned to the proper position.

At the end of the tier of cells there is provided an operating mechanism for the control shaft, which operating mechanism is shown more in detail in Figures 8 and 9. The control shaft 4| is provided with a sprocket 84 over which rides a The lower run of this chain passes over another sprocket 86. A suitable vertical housing 81 serves to enclose and protect the vertical runs of the chain and also encloses the sprockets.

The lower sprocket 86 is mounted on a shaft center 88 (see Figure 8), and there is a box like device 89 which is pivotally mounted upon the same center. Within this box like structure 89 there is provided a suitable gear reduction mech anism so that upon turning the entire box structure on the axial center 88 the sprocket 86 is rotated but with a reduced ratio of turns corresponding to the gear reduction within the box structure.

Extending outwardly from the box structure 89 there is an arm or bracket 90 which has a lateral projection 9 I. There is another lateral projection 92 on the box like structure 89 itself, and an interrupting pin 83 is slidably mounted between the projections 9| and 92. A spring 94 normally projects the pin 93 outwards as shown in Figure 8, and a hook 95 on the inner end of said pin serves as a convenient means for momentarily drawing the pin inwards against the force of said spring.

Connected to the gear train within the box like structure 89 there is a stub shaft 96 having thereon a cam block which has a finger 91. This shaft and cam block are so timed that the cam finger 91 reaches the position shown in Figure 8 at the time that the control shaft 4% reaches the snap lock position.

There is a bell crank 98 pivotally connected to the box like structure 88 and having an arm which is in position to be engaged by the finger 9! when the parts are at the snap locked position. The other arm of this bell crank extends down and is provided with a hook finger 99 which draws back away from the finger 95 of the pin 93 so as to release the same when the snap lock position is reached. This permits the spring 84 to force the finger 93 outwards into the interrupting position of Figure 8.

There is a stationary plate I 09 secured to a stationary part and having a notch or opening in position for engagement by the projected finger 93 so as to lock the box like structure 89 against any further rotation when such engagement takes place.

When the crank is to be turned the pin 93 is retracted against the force of the spring 84 by engaging the hook 95 with a finger and holding the same in retracted position for a short interval while thestructure 89 is eing turned. Thereupon the cam finger 97 will move over to a point where it ceases to interfere with the bell crank 98 and said bell crank will then move to a position to engage the under side of the finger and retain the pin 93 against the force of the spring 94. Upon turning the box like structure 89 backwardly towards the snap lock position the cam finger 97 will engage the bell crank Q8 and lock the same so as to release the finger 93 at the proper time to permit said finger to enter the opening of the plate I 08 and thus lock the device against any further movement until the pin 93 is purposely retracted against the force of the spring 94.

With the above arrangement, if the device is rotated so as to advance the control shaft either from the deadlocked position towards the snap locked position or from the unlocked position towards the snap locked position the interrupting pin 83 will be released when the device reaches the snap locked position so as to arrest any further movement until the interrupting pin is purposely retracted. This definitely prevents any over-running movement and ensures a positive interruption each time when the snap locked position is reached.

There is a crank pin IOI extending outwardly at right angles from a pin I02 which is journaled within the bracket 80 already referred to. A cam block I03 is slidably mounted on the pin 82 and is pressed outwardly by means of a spring I84 so as to engage another cam block H35 on the inner end of the crank pin li'il. The cam block I83 is prevented from rotation although it is permitted to slide in and out against the force of the spring I04.

The crank lfll can be turned' out into a position at right angles from that shown in Figure 8 so that thereupon it can be readily grasped in order to turn the box like structure 89 and rotate the same around the center 88 for the purpose already explained; When thus turning the crank in the clock wise direction viewed as in Figure 8 the crank binds against the bracket 90 so that the proper driving action is secured. This is the direction of crank turn for moving the control shaft from deadlocked to snap locked or unlocked position. On the other hand when the crank is turned in the counter clock wise direction the necessary turning force is communicated through the cam blocks Hi3 and I 05 and in case it becomes necessary to exert an abnormal amount of force the cam block D5 will slide past the block I03 and permit the crank Illl to fold over so that the driving action is arrested. In this way the parts are protected against exertion of an excessive force which would damage them, as for example in case one of the cell gates or doors was not fully closed so that the wing 46 did not properly enter the notch 41 of the ratchet iii. If desired suitable means may be provided for tightening or adjusting the compression of the spring HM.

In order to give a visual indication of the position of the control shaft and related mechanism there is provided a plate Hi6 connected to one of the runs of the chain 85 which passes over the sprockets 84 and 86, which plate therefore travels up and down with the chain and in harmony with the turning of the control shaft. This plate is suitably marked to designate the different consecutive positions on the control shaft such as deadlocked, snap locked, unlocked, etc. A slotted opening Hll is provided in the housing surrounding the chain and plate so that the plate is visible through this slotted opening and the warden or guard may read the position of the parts through this slotted opening.

There is a lug or finger I08 connected to the shaft 88 and turning with the same. This finger is preferably located within the housing immediately behind the position of the box like structure 89. There is a bracket I09 connected to a permanent structure and having an outwardly extending flange located between the runs of the chain. This bracket flange is provided with openings Ill], III which are located close together. Brackets H2 and H3 are connected to the runs of the chain and are provided with the downwardly extending fingers H4 and H5 which are aligned with the holes Ill] and HI. The result is that as the chain moves back and forth one or the other of the fingers H4 and H5 is projected through the corresponding bracket hole to a point where it will interfere with the lateral movement of the lug 38 due to rotation of the shaft 88. Thus the further movement of the parts is positively arrested at the exact position for the termination of the movement. Furthermore the holes in the bracket flange provide ample lateral support for the fingers I I4 and I 15 soas to provide the necessary resistance to lock the parts against further movement.

While I have herein shown and described only certain embodiments of the features of my present invention still I do not intend to limit myself thereto except as I may do so in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described the combination of a slidable gate, a ratchet bar connectedtheretoand provided with ratchet teeth,

means for successively engaging the teeth as the gate is closed, a travel bar connected to said ratchet bar and having a supporting surface, a vertically movable locking bar provided with latch openings, latches on the gate adapted to enter the openings of the locking bar when said bar is raised, a supporting element connected to the locking bar and travelling on the travel bar, the travel bar being so related to the sliding movement of the gate that during the closing operation the locking bar is raised to bring the latch openings thereof into registry with the latches on the gate, and the travel bar being so formed as to permit return downward of the locking bar when the gate is fully closed with the latches extending through the openings of thelocking bar, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a slidable gate, means for guiding said gate during its sliding movement, a travel bar in permanent relationship to the gate, a vertically moving locking bar, a latch connected to the gate, the locking bar being provided with an opening adapted to receive said latch when the locking bar is raised and the gate is moved to its closing position, means connected to the locking bar and engaging the travel bar to support the locking bar from the travel bar, the parts being so arranged that as the gate is moved in the closing direction the locking bar is raised to bring its opening into registry with the latch of the gate, and the travel bar being so formed that when the gate is fully closed the locking bar is permitted to drop to the locking position, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described the combination of a slidable gate, a latch thereon, a vertically movable locking bar having a latch opening, means for gradually raising the locking bar to establish registry of the latch opening thereof with the latch of the gate during gate closing movement, independently of the latch itself, and permitting movement of the locking bar to the closing position when the gate is fully closed, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described the combination of a slidable gate, a vertically movable locking bar, a latch on the gate, the locking bar being provided with a latch opening, means for gradually lifting the locking bar during closing movement of the gate to establish registry of the gate latch with the latch opening of the locking bar during closing movement of the gate, and permitting rapid movement of the locking bar to the locking position at the terminus of r gate closing movement, scribed.

5. In a device of the class described the combination of a slidable gate, a ratchet bar con nected to said gate and moving back and forth therewith, said ratchet bar being provided with locking teeth, a pawl pivotally connected to a stationary part in position to engage the teeth aforesaid, to prevent opening movement of the gate, a vertically movable locking bar, a latch on the gate, the locking bar being provided with an opening toreceive said latch in looking fashion, means for at times deadlocking the locking bar against vertical movement, and key operated means for simultaneously raising the locking bar and disengaging the pawl from the ratchet bar at other times, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described the combination of a slidable gate, a ratchet bar consubstantially as denected thereto, a pawl connected to a stationary part in position to engage said ratchet bar in locking fashion, a locking bar, a latch connected to the gate, the locking bar beingsuitably formed to engage said latch when the gate is fully closed, key operated means for simultaneously raising the locking bar and for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet bar, and remote control means for at times simultaneously raising the locking bar and disengaging the pawl from the ratchet bar independently of said key operated means, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the class described the combination of a slidable gate, a ratchet bar connected thereto and travelling therewith, a vertically movable locking bar, a latch on the gate, the locking bar being suitably formed to engage the latch in locking fashion when the gate is fully closed, a pawl connected to a stationary part and adapted to engage the ratchet bar as the gate is closed, remote control means for controlling the locking and unlocking functions for the gate, and including means for at times deadlocking the locking bar in connection with the latch of the gate, and also including a member movable into deadlocking registry with the ratchet bar at such times, substantially as described.

8. In a device of the class described the combination of a slidable gate, a ratchet bar connected thereto and travelling therewith, a locking bar, a latch on the gate adapted to engage a portion of the locking bar to retain the gate in locked condition, a pawl connected to a stationary part and adapted to engage the ratchet bar in locking fashion, remote control means for controlling the locking and unlocking function, and means directly connected to said remote control means in position to engage the ratchet bar in looking fashion, irrespective of the locking engagement of the pawl therewith, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the class described the combination of a slidable gate, a ratchet bar connected thereto and travelling therewith, a locking bar, a latch on the gate adapted to engage the locking bar when the gate is fully closed, a pawl connected to a stationary part and adapted to engage the ratchet bar in looking fashion, remote control means for controlling the locking and unlocking functions of the parts, means in connection with said remote control means operative effectively to lock the locking bar in connection with the gate latch when the parts are in the deadlocked position, and operative effectively to disengage the pawl from the ratchet bar and to disengage the locking bar from the latch when said remote control means is'in the unlocked position, substantially as described.

10. In a device of the class described the combination of a slidable gate, a ratchet bar connected thereto and travelling therewith, a pawl connected to a stationary part in position to engage the ratchet bar in looking fashion, remote control means for controlling the locking and unlocking functions of the parts, a latch carried by the ratchet bar and travelling therewith, an abutment connected to the remote control device, and adapted to occupy a position to interfere with said latch when the remote control means is in the unlocked position to thereby retain the gate in the fully open position, substantially as described.

11. In a device of the class described the combination of a slidable gate, a ratchet bar connected thereto and travelling therewith, means for at times locking -the gate in the closed posiing the same, remote control means for said locking and unlocking means and comprising a control shaft having a plurality of hooks connected thereto and rocking therewith, a removable cover plate covering over and protecting the operating mechanisms, and means for blind securing said cover plate in place comprising means connected to the inner face of the plate and suitably formed for engagement by the hooks aforesaid when the rock shaft is turned to the locking position, substantially as described.

13. In a device of the class described the combination of a gate, means for locking and unlocking the same, remote control means for said looking and unlocking means and comprising a con trol shaft having a plurality of hooks connected thereto and rocking therewith, a removable cover plate covering over and protecting the operating mechanisms, and means for blind securing said cover plate in place comprising means connected to the inner face of the cover plate and suitably formed for engagement by the hooks aforesaid when the rock shaft is turned to a selected position, substantially as described.

14. In a device of the class described the combination of a gate, means for locking and unlocking the same including a rock shaft, a finger connected thereto and locking therewith, a removable cover plate for certain of the parts and means for blind locking the cover plate in place when the control means is in a selected position, substantially as described.

15. In a device of the class described the combination of a slidable gate, an element connected thereto having a recess for the accommodation of a locking member, a control rock shaft, an outwardly extending locking element thereon adapted to at times engage the recess aforesaid for locking purposes, means for turning the control rock shaft including a hand crank, and also including a friction yieldable connection intermediate between said hand crank and said control rock shaft operative effectively to discontinue the driving function in case of non-registry of the outwardly extending member with he recess aforesaid, substantially as described.

16. In a device of the class described the combination of a slidable gate, an element connected thereto and provided with a recess for the accommodation of a locking member, a control rock shaft, an outwardly extending member thereon adapted to at times engage said recess for the locking function, a driving member, and connections between said driving member and the control rock shaft operative effectively to turn said shaft to a fully locked position and including a yieldable connection adapted to yield in case of non-registry of the outwardly extending member with the recess aforesaid, substantially as described.

17. In a device of the class described the combination with a slidable gate, of a control rock shaft for controlling the locking functions of said gate and movable between unlocked and deadlocked positions and through an intermediate locking position, manual means for turning said control rock shaft in either direction and means for temporarily locking said manual means at said intermediate position and comprising an interrupting pin connected to the manual means, an element in position to be engaged by said interrupting pin to lock the manual means against movement and means for releasing the interrupting pin at said intermediate position of movement, substantially as described.

18. In a device of the class described the combination with a gate, of a control member for controlling the locking functions thereof and movable between unlocked and deadlocked positions and through an intermediate locking position, manual means for actuating said control member, and means for temporarily arresting the movement of said manual means at the intermediate position aforesaid, substantially as described.

FOLGER ADAM. 

